Obsession

Chapter 44

Leo

I sit by Mara's bed watching her sleep, thankful that she's finally getting the rest she's so desperately needed for the past few months. She's been through so much, more than most people could bear. But she's been so strong, so resilient.

I haven't talked to her in days. Every time I stop by, she's either sleeping, being examined or being questioned.

Kai's body disappeared and now, the police think we had something to do with it. It's stupid really. I'm the one that found Mara and brought her here. I'm the one who told police where to find Kai. Why would I do all that if we were trying to get away with murder?

Mara begins to stir, so I take her hand, squeezing it gently. Her eyes flutter open and widen in surprise when she sees me.

"Leo," she cries.

"Shhh," I whisper, pushing her hair away from her face. "Don't cry, baby."

"I'm in so much trouble," she whimpers.

"No you're not. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you. Even if it means we have to run away from here and never come back," I tell her.

"They think you helped me. I told them you didn't, but they-"

"It's okay," I say quickly. "I know what they're doing. We showed up to the hospital covered in his blood. Of course they're gonna assume the worst. But without a body, they can't prove anything. And besides, everyone will know it was self-defense. He's been stalking you for months."

A tear rolls down her cheek. "It wasn't self-defense. I planned to murder him. I knew what I was doing."

"I know you did. But after what he put you through, who could blame you?"

"The state of California, that's who," she cries.

"No one could ever prove you planned it. He manipulated you. Threatened you. Stalked you," I say. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. One way or another."

"I don't think he's really dead, Leo," she says, meeting my eyes.

"I don't either," I say quietly.

It's an absurd thought, especially after what I saw. Mara must've stabbed him at least twelve or thirteen times right in his chest with an eight inch blade. There was so much blood. Any normal person wouldn't have survived that. But Kai isn't normal. I can't explain what's wrong with him, and even if I could, no one would believe me.

"He was here," she says, causing my head to snap up and my eyes to widen. "He tried to convince me that it was you I attacked instead of him."

"He was probably hoping you didn't remember what happened."

"I didn't at first. It wasn't until I saw him that I remembered what I did," she says, starting to tear up again. "I don't want to be a monster, Leo. I'm not like him. I can't be..."

I sit on the edge of her bed and pull her into my arms. "You're no monster, baby. Not even close."

"I just want him to go away," she sobs into my chest.

"Me too," I whisper.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how to make that happen. Kai should've died three times by now. How do you kill someone who seems to be immortal?

I suddenly remember mine and Anna's visit to see her Aunt Roma in Santa Barbara. She said he possessed something; something I can't exactly remember now. Something that made him dark and evil. The only way we're ever going to permanently get rid of Kai is to find out what he really is.